Deal Makers (Dealing with Love 3)

“Speaking of grandchildren...” I taunt. “Didn’t you have some news that you wanted to share, Brody? Since you’re in such a sharing mood?”

Was that immature? Sure. Am I sorry? Nope. The little shit asked for it.

“Asshole,” Brody coughs out.

My mom frowns. “B.J., you have something to say?”

“Yeah, B.J., go on,” I snicker, knowing how much he hates the nickname our mom has given him.

He scratches his face with his middle finger, conveniently aimed in my direction. “Mom, Dad, Nonna...Rainey and I have some news. We’re having a baby. And before you say anything, no, we are not getting married first. But that will happen shortly after the baby’s born.”

Rainey smiles. “We’re not formally announcing it until I’m in my second trimester, but we wanted close friends and family to know.”

A grin stretches across my mom’s face. “Oh, this is wonderful!”

All right, who is this woman and what has she done with my mother? First she’s Ms. Nonchalant about my wedding, and now, she couldn’t care less if Brody is having a child out of wedlock? This is major Invasion of the Body Snatchers shit right here.

“Well, that was anticlimactic,” Drew mutters.

“No kidding,” I whisper.

My mom waves her finger between Brody and Drew. “So...what? You no longer friends?”

Both Drew and my brother actually look pained at the thought, making my heart squeeze.

“That’s up to him,” Drew says.

My mom claps her hands twice. “Everyone out! Into the den! Give the boys some room to talk. Rainey, you come tell us about the baby!”

Brody stands up. “Don’t bother. I’ve said everything that I need to say to him.”

Rainey tugs on his arm. “Brody, c’mon—”

Brody shakes his head. “No. I mean it. Drew knows where I stand. Mom, thanks for making a great breakfast but we’re going to head out now.”

“Brody,” my dad says. “Don’t be such a stubborn ass.”

Drew hangs his head in resignation before facing my dad. “It’s okay, Mr. Harris. He’s right; I know where he stands.”

Rainey gives us an apologetic look as Brody drags her out of the room with no more than a grunt.

The rest of my family clears the room, sensing that Drew and I could use a moment alone.

Drew rests his forehead in his hand. “Well, that didn’t go nearly as well as I had hoped.”

I lean my head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Drew. I really thought he might come around.”

He sighs. “Doesn’t look that way, does it?”

“No,” I agree. “It really doesn’t.”

Which means the time has come for me to make the decision for him.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

DREW

Charlee sighs. “What a weird morning.”